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VOLUME 23 ISSUE 20 AUG. 12 - AUG. 25, 2026

Real Stories

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2 / / S T R E E T S E N S E M ED IA // AU G . 12 - AU G . 25, 2026

OUR STORY NEWSROOM

treet Sense has produced thousands of articles on homelesness, housing, and poverty, including some that led to change in the city. The paper has won awards from D.C.’s Society of Professional Journalism and regularly breaks news about homelesness and housing.

The Cover COVER DESIGN BY ANNABEL FURTON, PHOTO BY TED EYTAN / FLICKR

THE TEAM VENDORS Abel Putu, Abraham Aly, Aida Peery, Akindele Akerejah, Alia Haug, Amia Walker, Andre Brinson, Andre Baltimore, Andrew Anderson, Angie Whitehurst, Angela Morris, Anthony Carney, Apollos Robinson, AnToinette Richardson, Archie Thomas, Beverly Sutton, Brian Holsten, Brianna Butler, Cameé Lee, Carlos Carolina, Carlton Johnson, Charles Armstrong,

Chris Boone, Chris Cole, Chon Gotti, Conrad Cheek, Craig Thompson, Cynthia Herrion, Daniel Ball, Darlesha Joyner, David Snyder, Debora Brantley, Degnon Dovonou, Deonte Savoy, Dominique Anthony, Don Gardner, Drake Brensul, El-O-Him, Elizabeth Windsor, Elynora Houston, Eric Jamison, Eric Thompson-Bey, Evelyn Nnam, Faith Winkler, Five FiftyOne, Flegette Rippy, Frankey Barrz, Frederic John, Frederick

Walker, Gerald Anderson, Gloria Prinz, Greta Christian, Henry Johnson, Indashow Birmandie, Invisible Prophet, Ivory Wilson, Jacques Collier, Jacqueline Gale, Jacqueline Turner, James Davis, James Hughes, James Lyles III, Jay B. Williams, Jeanette Richardson, Jeffery McNeil, Jemel Fleming, Jenkins Dalton, Jennifer McLaughlin, Jewel Lewis, John Littlejohn, Josie Brown, Julienne Kengnie, Kenneth

Bynum, Kenneth Middleton, Katrina Anige, Kimberley Shattuck, Kym Parker, L.Q. Peterson, Lawrence Autry, Leo Hughes Jr, Levester Green, Lillie Thomas II, Marc Grier, Marcus McCall, Marquis Savant, Mars, Maurice Carter, Melody Byrd, Michele Helies, Milan Stevenson, Monique Rivers, Nikila Campbell, Patricia Donaldson, Patty Smith, Paul Martin, Phillip Black, Qaadir El-Amin, Queenie Featherstone,

Rachelle Ellison, Randall Smith, Rashawn Bowser, Reginald Black, Reginald Denny, Reneece Brinkley, Ricardo Meriedy, Richard Mooney, Rita Sauls, Robert Reed, Robert Warren, Rochelle Walker, Ron Dudley, Ronnell Wilson, S. Smith, Sasha Williams, Sharon Brown, Shawn Fenwick, Sheila White, Shuhratjon Ahmadjonov, Starchild BLK, Susan Wilshasen, Sybil Taylor, Tasha Savoy, Tonya Williams, Vincent

Watts, Warning Label, Warren Stevens, Wayne Hall, Wendell Williams, Wendy Brown, William Hargrove, William Shuford, Willie Futrelle, William Young, Zero BOARD OF DIRECTORS Clare Krupin, Chris Curry, Cole Ingraham, David Grant, Jonquilyn Hill, Mary Casale, Matt Perra, Michael Vaughan Cherubin, Nana-Sentuo Bonsu, Phil Telfeyan

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

EDITOR’S NOTE

EVENTS AT SSM ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vendors, staff, and volunteers at the community celebration. Photo by Madi Koesler

Celebrating our vendors! ANNEMARIE CUCCIA Editor-in-Chief

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Trying to stay cool? You can always pick up a bottle or two of cold water in the admin office!

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The August Vendor Meeting is Friday, Aug. 28, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Come for business, community, and pizza!

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Find a list of vendor announcements and other useful information just for you at streetsensemedia. org/vendor-info.

BIRTHDAYS

n early August, we held our annual vendor appreciation and community celebration. It’s one of my favorite times of year, when staff, vendors, interns, board members, and volunteers come together to eat, dance, and reflect on our work. This year, I asked attendees to share some of the things they most admire about our vendors, which you can read below. Vendors, I hope these words give you some insight into how valued you are by our community. This is your paper, and I’m so fortunate to get to see how you advocate for it every day. - Annemarie Cuccia, editor-in-chief “The vendors breathe life into the paper. The paper wouldn’t be the same without the perspective and enthusiasm they bring.” - Madi Koesler, editorial volunteer “I appreciate how real they are. I mean, they’re genuine, there’s no pretense, no masks, they are who they are, and they deal with some very tough situations with a great deal of dignity and courage. Many of them are also very funny.” - Ann Herzog, vendor program volunteer “I’m grateful the vendors educate our city about the real problems that affect people and are too often ignored.” - Phil Telfeyan, board member “I appreciate the authenticity, the spirit of community, and how they come together and share their stories.” - Donte Kirby, deputy editor “Everything. I appreciate the willingness to be vulnerable.” - Willie Schatz, artist-in-residence “I appreciate the talent I see every time I come here and spend an hour with vendors. There’s some really talented artists in the group, and I’m delighted to be making art with them.” - Molly Pauker, artist-in-residence “I appreciate their work ethic and their creativity.” - Brian Carome, CEO “I always like being around people who have a positive attitude, and there are so many vendors who have an optimistic view of their future. I find it uplifting.” - Roberta Haber, vendor program volunteer “I appreciate their joy at being in a class to learn about different kinds of poetry, and their enthusiasm and devotion to writing, and to each other.” - Bonnie Naradzay, artist-in-residence “They are very kind and helpful, and they are listening to what we convey to them.” - Esmat Amin, employment specialist “I appreciate the enthusiasm with which they go about each day. I work at the front desk and get a chance to talk with folks as they come in, and see what they do. Everyone likes to chat and is very friendly, and everyone really feels like ‘people people.’” - David Fucillo, editorial and vendor program volunteer “I’m excited to be part of the community and meet more of the vendors!” - Mary Casale, board member “Vendors are doing an amazing job of going out into the DMV and bringing customers into the mission through sharing their energy, their heart, and their soul, talking up Street Sense and bringing the energy we have at this event out into the city.” - Thomas Ratliff, director of vendor employment “They are both passionate and adamant about getting their most immediate needs met; it doesn’t matter how dire or how simple whatever that need or goal is. They are the vibe that makes Street Sense go.” - Darick Brown, director of programs

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

EMPLOYMENT

Ann Herzog, Beverly

EDITORIAL

DESIGN INTERN

Molly Pauker

OFFICER

SPECIALIST

Brown, David Fucillo,

INTERNS

Annabel Furton

(Watercolor), Willie

Brian Carome

Esmat Amin

Mark Fehling, Roberta

Alexandra Lalli,

Haber

Catherine Keightley,

VENDOR PROGRAM

Chih-Rong Kuo, Julian

RESIDENCE

EDITORIAL

PROGRAMS

ASSOCIATES

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Schnittker, Natalie

Alexandra Silverthorne

VOLUNTEERS

Darick Brown

Aida Peery, Chon

Annemarie Cuccia

Note, Raina Pawloski

(Photography),

Anne Eigeman, Chloe

Bonnie Naradzay

DiStaso, David Fucillo,

DEPUTY EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA

(Poetry), David Serota

Guilherme Oliveira,

INTERN

(Illustration), Debbie

Kathryn Owens,

Lucy Montalti

Menke (Watercolor),

Nora Scully, Sara

JM Ascienzo (Yoga),

Mangelsdorf

Gotti, Nikila Campbell OF VENDOR

VENDOR

EMPLOYMENT

PROGRAM

Thomas Ratliff

VOLUNTEERS

Donte Kirby

ARTIST/VENDOR

VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT Read this democratically elected code of conduct, by vendors, for vendors! 1.

I will support Street Sense Media’s mission statement and in so doing will work to support the Street Sense Media community and uphold its values of honesty, respect, support, and opportunity.

I will treat all others, including customers, staff, volunteers, and fellow vendors, respectfully at all times. I will refrain from threatening others, pressuring customers into making donations, or engaging in behavior that condones racism, sexism, classism, or other prejudices.

I understand that I am not an employee of Street Sense Media but an independent contractor.

While distributing the Street Sense newspaper, I will not ask for more than $3 per issue or solicit donations by any other means.

I will only purchase the newspaper from Street Sense Media staff and volunteers and will not distribute newspapers to other vendors.

I will not distribute copies of “Street Sense” on metro trains and buses or on private property.

I will abide by the Street Sense Media Vendor Territory Policy at all times and will resolve any related disputes with other vendors in a professional manner.

I will not sell additional goods or products while distributing “Street Sense.”

I will not distribute “Street Sense” under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

10.

I understand that my badge and vest are property of Street Sense Media and will not deface them. I will present my badge when purchasing “Street Sense” and will always display my badge when distributing “Street Sense.”

Schatz (Writing) ARTISTS-IN-

DIRECTOR OF

DIRECTOR

Patricia Donaldson Aug. 20

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NEWS

D.C. adopts new plan to end homelessness after year-long delay NATALIE NOTE Editorial Intern

he District has a new answer to the perennial question of how it should respond to homelessness. D.C.’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) adopted its third strategic plan to end homelessness in the District on July 28 following a yearlong delay after the previous plan expired last fall. Homelessness increased by 4.4% between 2025 and 2026, according to the most recent Point-in-Time Count, with 5,363 people experiencing homelessness in the nation’s capital. The new plan, called Homeward D.C. 3.0, will govern D.C.’s response to homelessness until fiscal year 2030. It aims to prevent homelessness when possible and ensure it ends “quickly and permanently” when it occurs. Priorities include ensuring access to homeless shelters and supporting programs that can help people exit homelessness. This is the third iteration of Homeward D.C. drafted by the ICH, D.C.’s group of advocates, service providers, and individuals with lived experience who convene to shape the District’s homelessness policy. Homeward 3.0 is much shorter than the past plans — with only four pages compared to Homeward 2.0’s 61 — and will be implemented in conjunction with annual work plans each year it is in effect. During the final vote to approve Homeward 3.0, ICH members acknowledged it is sparser and less ambitious than previous versions, reflecting the District’s scaled-down resources to address homelessness following big investments earlier in the decade. They also shared concerns about the plan’s future as D.C. prepares to vote in a new mayor in November, who may have different priorities around homelessness. “We were dealing with the current administration, and this now extends beyond the current administration,” Lynn Amano, advocacy director at Friendship Place and member of the ICH, said at the meeting. “That’s a little problematic because I would like to be able to readapt and expand our scope as more resources become potentially available.” Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, a self-described democratic socialist, won D.C.’s Democratic primary in June and is the clear frontrunner to replace Mayor Muriel Bowser. As a councilmember, Lewis George opposed Bowser’s cuts to homeless services and voted no on the fiscal year 2026 budget, arguing it did not protect the District’s most vulnerable residents. In her final term, Bowser has handed down cuts to homelessness and social services, leaving advocates scrambling and the D.C. Council searching for funds to protect programs the District’s most vulnerable rely on. This summer, the council found one-time funds to reverse some of Bowser’s cuts, but Bowser refused to sign the budget, warning it will leave the next mayor and council with significant financial challenges. Homeward 3.0 was drafted to build on the lessons learned from the Bowser administration’s last two plans, Homewards 1.0 and 2.0. As part of achieving the goals outlined in those plans, D.C. added more Permanent Supportive Housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness, built new shelters and bridge housing for single adults, and reduced family homelessness by 73% between 2015 and 2021. However, the same level of investment was not made for individuals and youth, according to Homeward 3.0. And, the plan states, people experiencing homelessness were more vulnerable and required more support than the first Homewards accounted for. Homeward 3.0 cites multiple challenges the past plans faced, including a lack of funding, limited capacity among service providers, and difficulty coordinating across D.C. agencies. The goals set in Homeward 1.0 and 2.0 fell short. When Homeward 1.0 was announced in 2015, the plan set out to reduce homelessness by 65% by the end of 2020. In reality, homelessness only declined by approximately 30%, based on Point-in-Time Count data collected in 2015 and 2021. Homeward 3.0 does not have a similar goal. Instead, it outlines four priorities and 13 strategies meant to guide the District’s homeless services system over the next three years: supporting voucher and transitional housing programs to help people exit homelessness; providing year-round access to shelter; improving collaboration between D.C. government agencies, service providers, and those with lived experience; and maintaining homeless prevention and diversion programs, like rental assistance programs, the Homelessness Prevention Program, and Project Reconnect. “One of its biggest strengths is that it’s intentionally trying to be kind of a more shorter, more focused document where we can highlight sort of the key values and goals,” said Adam Rocap, deputy chief executive officer and chief strategy officer at Miriam’s Kitchen and member of the Homeward 3.0 planning steering committee. Each goal is accompanied by no more than four strategies to reach it, which generally name specific programs within the goal. For example, goal two calls for the maintenance of a year‑round crisis response system for unhoused people. The strategies to reach this include providing shelter, case management, and essential services, and strengthening “outreach and day drop-in centers to connect people sleeping outside and in unsafe places to shelter and services.” Rocap said previous plans were more robust, combining overarching goals and all of the action items needed to complete them into one document. Each goal had multiple pages of objectives, which were

hard to keep track of, Rocap said, and the ICH was not successful in turning the lengthy document into annual project plans the city could implement. Past plans also included goals around more than providing basic services. For example, in Homeward 2.0, goal 12 called for the city to provide leadership on creating a “right to housing in the United States,” and outlined action items for agencies like the D.C. Housing Authority and Office of Planning. There’s no evidence this advocacy was a focus of the D.C. government in past years, and creating a right to housing is not a goal in Homeward 3.0. Under Homeward 3.0, the ICH will draft an annual work plan to interpret the strategic plan based on available resources and changing community needs. The work plan will evaluate how changes to local and federal budgets have impacted different populations and use data to assess the need and performance of D.C.’s homeless services system. “Every year, we want to get in a rhythm of saying, ‘What are the resources? What’s happening this year? What do you prioritize?’” Kelly Sweeney McShane, co-chair of the ICH Strategic Planning Committee and head of the Homeward 3.0 committee said at a recent ICH meeting. This is a change from previous plans that tried to project the available resources in the future. Reevaluating funding each year for programs the plan relies on, like housing vouchers, transitional and bridge housing, and rental assistance programs, will better tailor the ICH’s recommendations. “There’s a lot of changes in the city and in the federal government on lots of different levels, so that it’s even harder than it was in the past to say, ‘hey, this is how we think things should play out over five years,’” Rocap said. “So I think it’s a smarter structure.” Recent federal funding fights show available funding can change quickly and significantly impact the programs available year to year. In July, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform advanced a bill that would prevent D.C. from making changes to its taxes and fees without Congressional approval, which would impact the District’s ability to budget. Nationally, the Trump administration is also attempting to reshape federal homelessness funding and move support away from permanent housing programs. Continual conversations regarding funding obstacles occurred throughout the drafting of Homeward 3.0 and contributed to the plan’s one-year delay. When Homeward 2.0 expired at the end of September 2025, Homeward 3.0 was supposed to be drafted and ready to go into effect. However, when Bowser enacted a city-wide government hiring freeze in May 2025 in an attempt to counteract a hole left by a lack of federal funding in the city’s budget, the ICH was left with only one full-time employee and forced to scale back its monthly meetings. These staffing shortages delayed the development of Homeward 3.0, ICH Executive Director Theresa Silla told Street Sense last August. In fiscal year 2027, the ICH will only have the funds to support its executive director and possibly one deputy director. ICH Strategic Planning Committee Co-Chair Aaron White said it is “heartbreaking” there will be at most two staff members supporting the ICH next fiscal year. “I feel that we need more government support from the ICH as far as staffing,” White said. Rocap agreed the reduction in staff is concerning, but pointed out the ICH has never been “particularly successful,” regardless of staffing. The ICH’s bylaws state it was created to facilitate collaboration between advocates, D.C. agencies, and those with lived experience on planning, policymaking, and performance management regarding homelessness services. However, the body does not pass laws, set agency policy, or have a say in how the city’s budget is used, limiting its impact and potentially the implementation of this latest plan. The ICH unanimously passed Homeward 3.0 and passed its fiscal year 2027 work plan with one objection. The plan will now be submitted to the mayor’s office for review and adoption, and a roundtable about the plan is proposed for Sept. 30. But Silla said the dates and next steps for Homeward 3.0 are a “best guess,” as Bowser may decide not to adopt the plan and wait for the next mayor. “We might, in fact, have to wait until January of next year, or even until that administration is set up and is able to review and approve or adopt our strategic plan,” Silla said at the July 28 meeting. Still, ICH members seem ready to get to work with this new guidance. White said Homeward 3.0 is the best plan the ICH has adopted because it highlights a more practical approach to homelessness policy over the next three years. “Right now, we have something a little smaller. We have something that’s more gradual that we can track, we can monitor, and then we can have other communities, stakeholders, government agencies, and providers pitch in and do the work as well,” White said. “This is a community effort.” Rocap agreed, saying this new plan is a collaborative effort he hopes will be more successful, as advocates, government agencies, and other stakeholders have committed to working on an annual plan. “What gives us the best chance of it being effective is sort of building this type of plan that’s leaner and everyone’s sort of committing from the outset to invest in that annual planning process,” he said.

STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG

District employees pick up various personal items left beneath the highway at the intersection of K and 27th Streets while clearing an encampment on July 22. Photo by Julian Schnittker

Encampment Updates: D.C. is on track to close twice as many encampments in 2026 than in 2025 CATHERINE KEIGHTLEY AND RAINA PAWLOSKI Editorial Interns

he District has closed 98 encampments through the end of July, an increase from the same period in 2025, during which D.C. closed 50 encampments, according to data from D.C.’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS). Although D.C. officials have said the overall number of encampments has declined since closing the large tent communities that emerged during the pandemic, the District continues increasing the number of encampment closures since federal presence began a year ago. July included 14 completed closures, along with several other sites that were cancelled or abandoned before the scheduled clearing. Throughout the month, people packed their belongings, worked with outreach teams, and, in many cases, simply relocated to nearby areas after their encampments were cleared. About 60 people living outside were also impacted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library’s new enforcement of rules against sleeping or lying down outside the downtown library. On July 7, DMHHS cleared the encampment of one man living at 4th and I Streets SW. A police officer present at the clearing said it was taking place because the encampment was on D.C. property and that, to his knowledge, it was the first time the District had removed the man from that location. A woman living in the apartment building across from the site confirmed he had been living there for about two years. The man declined to speak with Street Sense. The man then moved about a block away, where police attempted to give him paperwork restricting where he could set up in the surrounding area. He refused to sign the document. Police and DMHHS did not respond to questions about the document, which is not standard in encampment closures, or the circumstances surrounding it. The site of a clearing also scheduled for July 7 near Landsburgh Park was abandoned, as was an encampment at the Franklin D. Reeves Municipal Center scheduled to be removed on July 14. The person who had slept there left all their belongings under the Reeves Center’s entrance, which DMHHS quickly cleared right at 10 a.m. On July 22, DMHHS closed one man’s encampment at an underpass at the intersection of 27th and K Streets NW. The man, who did not give his name, said he had collected trash and debris and organized it in a pile just before DMMHS notified him of the clearing, and was frustrated he had to relocate after just cleaning up the area.

A week later, on July 29, the city closed one woman’s encampment at the park near the Eastern Market Metro stop. The woman had grocery carts, an umbrella, a suitcase, a wheelchair, and a walker. Her case manager and other outreach workers were present at the clearing and assisted her with sorting through what could be thrown out and removing her belongings from the park. On the last day of the month, DMHHS closed a two-person encampment in front of the Shiloh Baptist Church Outreach Center in Shaw. The man and woman began working to clear their items about 30 minutes before DMHHS arrived. As they moved their blankets, bedding, and chairs, along with a bike and umbrella, around the corner, pedestrians stopped to say good morning to the two. “What’s up, neighbor?” the man, who declined to give his name, said, pausing his cleaning to fist-bump a passing pedestrian. Tom Petty’s song “American Girl” played from a portable radio as DMHHS arrived to supervise the clearing and remove any remaining trash. On July 30, DMHHS cleared the encampment of Josh, who had been living beneath the 11th Street SE underpass for about three weeks. As outreach workers helped him move his belongings across the street, Josh said he chose the underpass because it provided shelter from the weather and was close to the Whole Foods where he regularly gets food. Josh, who has experienced homelessness for over 14 years and gave only his first name to protect his privacy while living outside, said he hopes to put some of his belongings into storage so he can enter a shelter recommended by outreach workers. He said he has stayed in shelters before but struggled with rules, like being required to leave during the day or having limited access to the belongings he can bring inside. Josh said he previously turned down bridge housing, a more private shelter option, because he felt his disability and dietary needs could not be accommodated. He said he was later told he would have to restart the application process and return to the waiting list. When asked if he would consider trying bridge housing again, he said, “I’m guessing they’ll do the same thing that they did before... refusing to afford me the medical and dietary services I needed.” During the cleanup, Josh became emotional while describing years of difficulty accessing housing, public benefits, and other services. “I’m just devastated,” he said. “They’re just playing a bunch of paperwork games.” Natalie Note, Julian Schnittker, and Chih-Rong Kuo contributed reporting.

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NEWS

The unkept promise of D.C.’s Commission on Poverty NATALIE NOTE Editorial Intern

fter unsuccessfully lobbying the D.C. Council to restore its funding, the D.C. Commission on Poverty has been left reeling, wondering how it will fulfill its legally mandated obligations without funds, staff, or a full slate of commissioners. To top it off, Commission Vice Chair Khadijah Williams stepped down from her role this month after moving out of the District, just nine months into her three-year term. Since its creation, D.C.’s Commission on Poverty has struggled to fulfill its mission of working and advocating for those living in poverty in D.C. Instead, commissioners say they have spent time legitimizing the commission to the same D.C. agencies it is meant to collaborate with. Some commission members and poverty policy experts say the D.C. government’s lack of financial support and urgency to appoint commission members reflect a greater failure to support Washingtonians in poverty. The poverty commission was created in 2021 and has been active since late 2022. The commission is the only body that focuses solely on reducing poverty and was created to bring together D.C. agencies that work with poverty, including the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health, to foster collaboration and bring the voice of those with lived experience into the conversation. Since 2022, the commission has gone through leadership changes and continually had vacant positions, sometimes preventing it from reaching a quorum. Former Chair Marla Dean stepped down from the commission in June 2025, and current Commission Chair Elijah Moses, who also works as the executive director of Wise Young Builders, was voted into the role that September. Under previous leadership, the commission had also struggled to hold its legally required community listening sessions and released its report on how D.C. could end poverty more than a year late. Now, there’s concern the largely advisory body will continue struggling to make a meaningful impact on the District’s response to poverty as it lacks funding and a trusted reputation within D.C. government. Approximately 117,000 people, or 17.3% of D.C.’s population, are living in poverty, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. Since she was officially appointed vice chair in November, Williams said she and Moses have been working to develop the structure of the commission, which Moses said needed restoration when he took over last fall. Moses said the commission has been working to finalize a work plan that will eventually be released to the public and outline the work the commission is responsible for. “We’ve had to rebuild. We didn’t have any structure coming in, and that took away from our responsibility to build out the commission, do the work,” Williams, who also works as a Senior National Director for LIFT, Inc., told Street Sense. There is an energy and eagerness to work within the body, said Cesar Toledo, the executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation and a new member of the commission. “We have a lot of diversity, and I think that combination blends perfect,” Toledo said. “This is a recipe for a good working group.” But Toledo and Williams say that energy does not extend to the agencies that are supposed to work with the commission.

When she joined, Williams introduced a few D.C. agencies to the poverty commission, because those agencies did not know it existed. Her short time as vice chair was spent building relationships and figuring out how to redefine and refocus the goals of the commission so it can best help those living in poverty and center people with lived experience. Williams also commissioned a report on what helps similar bodies perform well. The report was presented to the commission at its April meeting and recommended the commission implement changes like publishing a public meeting schedule for each year and engaging donors to support the body. Commissioner Isaac Harris, who joined the commission in January, said his first year has been off to a slow start. Harris said since the commission failed to secure District funding, it has had a few meetings, but not a lot of work has been done. “I’m guessing there’s not much we can do without a budget,” Harris said. In fiscal year 2025, the Commission on Poverty was allocated $87,000, which Williams said was used in part to pay for a staff member, but its budget was reduced to $0 in fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027. The commission is required to have at least three full-time staff members supporting its work, according to its founding legislation, but it is currently supported by just one staff member who works for the commission part-time but primarily serves in another D.C. government role. With no funding for the upcoming fiscal year, Harris said commissioners have been disheartened, and morale is low. He said as an advocate and someone with lived experience in poverty, the issues those in poverty face have been the same year after year, with little improvement. If he were experiencing poverty now, Harris said, he would probably leave the city and see whether there was more opportunity for help elsewhere. “I would go into somewhere, Maryland, Virginia, and see what’s going on with them, because clearly you don’t want me to live in D.C.,” Harris said. Even when it had a budget, the commission struggled to fulfill its legally mandated obligations, such as producing a report on how D.C. could cut poverty in half by 2026. The commission released the report late after working on it for nearly two years, with commissioners stating it was “outdated” and did not fully represent the views of the commission. The report also did not provide an idea about how the recommendations could be funded or which government agency could be tasked with implementing them, which Williams, who was not on the commission at the time, said could have been a consequence of the committee’s limited resources. “If the commission had the infrastructure it needed, and the credibility across the council and the mayor’s office, in practice, what I believe would happen is there would be one-on-ones and conversations to talk through the recommendations and figure out the best way to implement them,” Williams said. Moses agreed, saying the commission would be better organized and could demand more attention from the D.C. government if it were allocated its legally mandated budget to fund staff members and an executive director. But, he said, he understands the D.C. government has a lot of responsibilities, including other agencies that work with poverty, and the commission is not at the top of their list. “There are quite a few responsibilities to manage, and I don’t think it helped that the commission wasn’t well organized to be more vocal earlier,” Moses said in an interview with Street Sense. Besides the lack of funding, Williams said the commission has struggled to get applicants appointed to the commission. The commission was designed to comprise of 11 at-large members and eight ward representatives with lived experience, all appointed by the mayor. It is unclear how many members are on the commission, as the list on the website has not been updated since November. Williams said candidates have had to wait months and sometimes years to hear back from the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments (MOTA), which handles mayoral nominations, while trying to get on the commission, and candidates she felt were qualified have reported being ignored altogether. MOTA did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Khadijah Williams poses for a portrait outside of the John Wilson Building, the seat of D.C. government. Photo by Julian Schnittker

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Brittany Pope, an economic security advisor with Bread for the City, applied to be on the commission in 2022 and was interviewed by the executive director at the time. It took her a year to hear back no open positions existed for at-large members, though positions for individuals with lived experience were vacant. Filling the lived experience positions has been a long-standing problem. Williams has advocated for the commission to make the role paid, which she said would attract more applicants, but she has not been able to secure the funding. Despite the setback, Pope still wanted to join the commission and reached out to Williams, a friend of hers, to inquire about open positions in 2025. Pope secured another interview with commission leadership in October 2025 and was told to apply through MOTA again, as positions would soon be opening. “He made it sound like things are gonna be shifting soon. The barriers are gonna be figured out, and if you apply again, then we’ll get you on,” Pope said in an interview with Street Sense. “That was last October of 2025, and I applied again. I let that contact person know I submitted my application and I haven’t heard back.” Pope said the work she does with Bread for the City is directly in line with the Commission on Poverty’s mission to find unique ways to end poverty in D.C. She has been a part of many programs, including the Thrive East of the River, which gave families impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns in Wards 7 and 8 $5,500 of unconditional cash. Pope said the organizational and structural challenges the commission has been facing could be alleviated if organizations like Bread for the City, which are already entrenched in the work of reducing poverty in D.C., could join the commission easily and share their expertise. “We could have facilitated this work because we’re on the ground working with these community members,” Pope said. Moses agreed the commission cannot end poverty on its own and is operating “adjacent” to work already being done in D.C. to reduce poverty. He wants to build relationships with existing organizations. “There are quite a few programs that either help reduce poverty, that improve the conditions of those living in poverty, and while the commission is one component of it, there are entire agencies that are dedicated to rendering those services,” Moses said. Ed Lazere, another D.C. poverty expert and the legislative advocacy director at the United Planning Organization, also attempted to join the commission. He applied in the summer of 2024, but after an interview with MOTA staff, he did not hear back. “I think just in general, there wasn’t a lot of urgency anywhere beyond perhaps the members of the commission themselves who were eager to support its goals,” Lazere said. Lazere said responsibility for uplifting the commission falls partially onto the D.C. Council, which created it. Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Trayon White, and Brianne Nadeau, who were among the council members who introduced the legislation that created the commission, did not return requests for comment about the commission’s progress and why it was not funded. The failure to fund the commission and the amount of time it takes for people to be appointed speak to how seriously the D.C. government is taking the commission, Lazere said. “The mayor did not seem to prioritize making this commission, supporting this commission, and encouraging it to fulfill its mission and come up with recommendations. Didn’t look to it for thoughts and recommendations as the mayor was thinking about policy and budget ideas. It’s clearly a sign that it was not taken seriously,” Lazere said. Even as a member of commission leadership, Williams has struggled to get support. She recently moved to Virginia after a decade in the District due to unforeseen circumstances. She reached out to MOTA to inquire about the commission’s requirement that members live in D.C. and see if she could continue her work. Williams said she didn’t get a response. On Aug. 7, she stepped down from the commission herself.

After recent overdose spikes, advocates urge D.C. to expand drug checking CATHERINE KEIGHTLEY Editorial Intern

series of overdose spikes across D.C. this summer, including a citywide surge over the Fourth of July weekend, has prompted harm reduction advocates to call for expanded drug checking, which they say could help prevent overdoses before they happen. The Health Promotion Initiative Services (HIPS) Executive Director Cyndee Clay said the nonprofit harm reduction organization documented a spike in nonfatal overdoses over the Fourth of July weekend. Unlike previous overdose spikes, Clay said the holiday weekend surge occurred across multiple neighborhoods rather than remaining concentrated in one area. Several days after the Fourth of July, Clay said HIPS documented another At the HIPS drop-in center, staff provide harm supplies, health services, and prolonged overdose spike, with more than 25 people experiencing nonfatal reduction support for people who use drugs. Photo by overdoses within a 24-hour period. Because HIPS relies on emergency response Catherine Keightley data, she said the true number of overdoses is likely higher, since some overdoses are treated without emergency services being called. In response to the spikes, HIPS and other advocates want D.C. to expand comprehensive drug checking. They argue overdose spikes often happen when particularly dangerous batches of drugs begin circulating. By testing small samples of drugs before they’re used, outreach workers could find those batches earlier and warn communities before more people overdose. The push comes as fentanyl continues to dominate D.C.’s overdose crisis. Although opioid overdose deaths have declined from pandemic-era highs, advocates said the recent overdose spikes show the crisis is far from over. According to D.C. Health’s Live Long DC dashboard, there were 458 fatal opioid overdoses in 2022 and a record 516 in 2023. That’s decreased in more recent years, with D.C. recording 232 fatal overdoses in 2025. From January to April 2026, D.C. recorded 58 fatal opioid overdoses and 1,046 nonfatal opioid overdoses. Fentanyl was involved in 96% of fatal opioid overdoses over the past year, according to the dashboard. Ward 8 recorded the highest fatal overdose rate, followed by Ward 7. Advocates with HIPS and ReFrame Health and Justice, a national harm reduction advocacy group, said D.C. is often left responding after overdose spikes have begun instead of identifying substances that raise the risk beforehand. Drug checking would allow people to voluntarily bring small drug samples to organizations for analysis before using them, helping identify dangerous substances, like fentanyl, xylazine, or lidocaine, in the drug supply. Advocates said the goal of drug checking is to reduce preventable overdoses by giving people better information about the drugs they plan to use, not to eliminate all risks that come with drug use. “Overdose is a very preventable phenomenon,” said Queen Adesuyi, policy director at ReFrame Health and Justice. “People don’t have to accidentally overdose.” Public health officials stress there is no safe way to use illicit drugs, and any use carries a risk of overdose and other serious health complications. Taking drugs like heroin, cocaine, or counterfeit pills carries risks of seizures, cardiac arrest, and stroke. Those risks can be compounded by additional substances present in the drugs, which those using them may not know about. Centers for Disease Control data show 98% of overdose patients who tested positive for fentanyl also had at least one additional substance, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin, in their system. “Because we don’t have a regulated drug supply, you never know what you’re getting,” Clay said. “Drug checking helps stabilize that a little. If there’s something bad going around, then you can check to make sure that’s not in your drugs.” D.C. already runs a syringe surveillance program. Throughout the past year, the District’s Department of Forensic Sciences agency analyzed 2,812 used syringes and detected fentanyl in 34.6% of samples, followed in frequency by cocaine (29.7%), heroin (20.3%), and xylazine (18.3%). Without comprehensive drug checking, Clay said HIPS relies on surveillance, emergency response data, and reports from people who use drugs to identify changes in the local drug supply. During overdose spikes, HIPS distributes naloxone, increases street outreach, posts alerts on social media, and encourages people not to use drugs alone. Although overdose affects residents across D.C., Adesuyi and Clay said people experiencing homelessness may face additional risks. Extreme heat and limited access to clean water can worsen the physical effects of drug use, Clay said, while the lack of safe places to use drugs means people are more likely to overdose alone without someone nearby to help. Speaking at a recent Interagency Council on Homelessness meeting, Executive Director Theresa Silla said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified about 50 intoxication-related deaths among people experiencing homelessness in both 2024 and 2025. The figures build on a broader trend: in 2023, opioid overdoses accounted for 57% of all deaths among people experiencing homelessness in D.C. Silla contrasted those figures with the District’s average of about two cold-weather homeless deaths each winter, saying overdose has become one of the most urgent public health issues facing people experiencing homelessness. Adesuyi urged D.C. leaders, such as the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), to implement comprehensive drug checking, saying it would give outreach workers information to warn communities before overdose spikes escalate and help people who use drugs make more informed decisions. DBH did not provide a comment by publication. “Harm reduction saves lives,” Adesuyi said. “It’s more effective to actually support people ahead of an overdose.”

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FEATURE

Calvary Women’s Services held a photoshoot last year, where clients were also able to have their hair and make-up done. All photos courtesy of Calvary Women’s Services

Beauty, self-care, and womanhood while experiencing homelessness ALEXANDRA LALLI Editorial Intern

n Jennifer Muhammad’s eyes, everyone is royal, and everyone is family. Those she serves at her aptly named nonprofit organization, the New Royal Family, she proudly refers to as her “kings and queens.” The New Royal Family provides services directly to people living on the streets. Through the organization, Muhammad (more colloquially known as “Miss Jennifer”) addresses a critical need that often goes overlooked for those experiencing homelessness: dignity, I.e., the ability to know and believe

in one’s self-worth. Organizations serving homeless populations routinely provide essential services like food, water, and shelter. While those services address basic physical needs, some organizations go the extra mile to ensure people experiencing homelessness can access “self-care.” Especially for women experiencing homelessness, this can mean providing hair care, makeup, and other tools to shape their appearance. Speak to Muhammad about her work, and one can immediately feel the sheer abundance of her love for her kings and queens — love she wants more than anything for them to feel for themselves. “I feel that we have to remind people, because this world does not refer to them or any of us as that,” Muhammad said, explaining why she calls the people she serves kings and queens. “But we have to remind people who are suffering that you are still royal despite your station in life — that would make you see yourself differently.” At the New Royal Family, Muhammad goes to great lengths to make people feel their most beautiful, providing makeup, hair services, opulent accessories, and elaborate ballgowns. Any resource request is called in directly to Muhammad by phone, and she said she and her team are on the clock 24/7, providing whatever is requested. “I [even] have paparazzi people to come down, you know, to make you feel good about yourself, and that’s a start,” she said. “It’s not only the essentials, but it’s how one feels about themselves. That’s a part of rebuilding a person as well.” The New Royal Family is not the only organization addressing homelessness in D.C. that highlights the importance of beauty, self-care, and dignity in changing lives. In fact, many programs targeted toward women — who often face unique challenges in their ability to care for themselves, ranging from childcare to domestic abuse and subsequent trauma — build in opportunities for women to feel beautiful. The community at Calvary Women’s Services understands the importance of women’s beauty as both a personal and practical tool. For decades, Calvary has been providing single, often Black women in D.C. with comprehensive resources and paths out of homelessness, including new clothes and even photoshoots. Lauren Etti, the communications manager at Calvary, explained why appearance can serve as a critical step toward employment, rather than a trivial investment. “Especially women who are trying to make sure they’re securing employment, being presentable on your first job interview, what you wear [matters],” Etti said. “We work with organizations like Suited for Change, for example, who provide clothes for women who are stepping into that employment role.”

While this service has a more practical motivation, Etti said the innate value of beauty goes unquestioned at Calvary. “That’s also the benefit of being in an all-women space where you also have a majority of staff who are women who, like, get it,” Etti said. “Yeah, we understand that you need to take care of yourself, you know, no matter the cost, because it’s very important to how you feel and your wellbeing. So I’ll say that’s definitely a unique part of our organization that strengthens it.” At Calvary, they know beauty can shape identity, and seek to honor that through services tailored toward Black women and their beauty needs. “A lot of the women we serve are Black women, and taking care of our hair, making sure it’s braided, making sure our nails are done [is important],” Etti said. “Typically, those are things that you find within our programs, which is important because it reinforces the idea that we are here to stand by women as they’re doing those things.” Etti and others at Calvary have seen the impact their holistic approach to care has had on the women they serve. Last fall, the organization invited the women of Calvary to come get their hair and makeup done at no expense for a glamorous photoshoot.

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The photoshoot was an opportunity for the women to feel special and get pampered without any cost concerns. The entire Calvary team came together to make it possible, according to Etti. “It was great to see some of our program staff who do lashes on the side, that kind of thing, say, ‘Hey, like if we’re doing this, you know, let’s give our clients a service that usually costs maybe like $150 to $200. Let’s just, like, do it for free,’” Etti said. In a particularly emotional moment, Etti reflected on the impact of the photoshoot and how it recently came full circle. One of the women who participated in the 2025 photoshoot recently got her makeup done by the same artist for her speech at Calvary’s annual Hope Gala, which took place this spring. She was returning to the community as an independent, employed, promoted woman. “She just, like, lit it up on stage. She looked incredible,” Etti said. “And it was just, it was so special to see her when you’re talking about your hardships to a bunch of people who don’t know you, but her taking the step to, like, bring her artist to where we’re having the gala, get her makeup done, practice, have this beautiful gown on the stage, and share about the most difficult times in her life and where she is now. It was just incredible.” Calvary and other organizations’ attention to the self-care of Black women is uniquely empowering because of the stigmas Black women, and Black mothers especially, face within the housing and

childcare systems, said Melody Webb, the executive director and founder of Mother’s Outreach Network, an organization that empowers mothers to advocate for policy change and create a network of resources. According to Webb, investing in the self-care of Black mothers actively pushes back on false narratives surrounding Black women’s experience of poverty and motherhood. “The vast majority of families who get caught up in the system are facing allegations that relate to poverty, and so in D.C., something like 90% of the cases they’re handling are poverty-related, and just across the country, poverty factors actually are basis for neglect allegations,” Webb said. While many of the cases of child neglect stem from poverty, Webb worries popular narratives around women neglecting their children reinforce harmful stereotypes of Black mothers. “So then we have this perception of Black women and Black mothers that are overlaid with racial tropes about laziness and welfare dependent,” she said. This narrative impacts the public perception of Black mothers and can lead to a negative rhetoric around self-care, according to Webb. The reality she sees every day is that mothers make sacrifices for their children, often having to deprioritize basic care for themselves. Kimberly Jackson, mother of three and member of the Mother’s Outreach Network for the last four years, explained the many considerations she has to make before investing in herself. “It’s really difficult. Say, maybe I want a hairdo or something like that. I might be able to do that. However, in any event, if it’s something else that comes up with my children, I’m able to take care of that. And especially during the school year, like, they have pop-up trips you gotta pay for. Like, different shows and/or programs that they have, they might need a particular outfit or particular color of clothing that you may not be able to do that. Book fairs, of course, they want books too.” Despite the sacrifice, Jackson said she wanted nothing more than to be able to provide her children with every opportunity possible. “When you have children, you want them to experience the things that you weren’t able to experience as a child, so whichever way that I can contribute to them having and experiencing those experiences is very helpful for me,” she said. For Amy Allen, mother of three, social media influencer, and advocate at Mother’s Outreach Network for the last two years, self-care ultimately means returning to her core as a person. “It [self-care] can be as minimum as minimizing my phone, as dramatic as going outside with a blanket to the park. Surrounding myself with nature. Sticking my bare feet & hands in some grass!! Sun on my skin for some Vitamin D, drinking water; then taking in some deep cleansing breaths,” Allen said in a written response. “Taking a pause, processing, reflecting, and reclaiming my individuality —- really keeps me grounded! Now, that’s my idea of self-care!” When asked when she felt most beautiful, Jackson thought for a moment. “Sometimes, when I curl my own hair… and, of course,” she chuckled, referring to her kids, “they want to help too.” “And even sometimes they try to give me little gifts,” she added, “and I’m just like, ‘You don’t have to give me anything.’”

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OPINION

Disability and Female octopuses when harassed homelessness are the same waiting list wearing two names INVISIBLE PROPHET

This article discusses rape and violence against women through current events on social media, news outlets, and historical events.

VICTOR SANTIAGO PINEDA

eople experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. are disabled at far higher rates than the general population; chronic illness, untreated injury, and psychiatric disability are both a cause and a consequence of losing housing. That overlap isn’t incidental. It’s close to the center of what’s actually breaking in this city’s safety net right now, and it deserves more attention than it gets during an anniversary that’s mostly about a law, rather than the people the law was supposed to protect. On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act turned 36. It exists because, in April 1977, about 150 disabled people occupied a federal building in San Francisco for 25 days, the longest occupation of a federal building in American history, to force the government to implement Section 504, the country’s first disability civil rights law. Most of them had no housing security, either, during that occupation. They slept on the floor of a federal building because they’d run out of other options. Solidarity, not money, got them fed; the Black Panther Party cooked dinner every night. I lead the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, the first of its kind, and I know what it costs when the system that’s supposed to catch disabled people fails at the housing level. Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), the funding that lets a disabled person keep an apartment with attendant support instead of losing it, just absorbed the deepest cuts in the program’s history. Waitlists for that kind of home care are growing in D.C. and everywhere else right now, and every person on that waitlist is one bad month away from the kind of housing loss Street Sense readers and vendors understand better than most of Washington does. Meanwhile, the federal office that used to coordinate independent living services nationally was dismantled last year, which in practice means there’s no clear federal desk to call when a local HCBS waitlist stalls out. Homelessness policy in this city tends to get discussed as a separate problem from disability policy, with separate agencies, separate advocates, and separate funding streams. On the ground, for a lot of people, it’s one waiting list wearing two names: the wait for a bed and the wait for the home-care hours that would have kept them out of needing one. I was a disabled kid once with no legal right to a classroom; I know what it is to be on the wrong side of a door someone else controls. This anniversary, I’d ask Congress to fund the door that keeps people housed in the first place, not just the one that eventually, belatedly, lets them back in. Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda is the executive director at the Center for Independent Living, Inc.

Photo courtesy of Victor Santiago Pineda

emale gloomy octopuses (females are larger than males) in Australia project silt, shells, and silt-like debris at nearby males using a jet of water from their siphon. The persistence of a male octopus trying to mate with a female octopus reflects a reality for the human female species. In Jervis Bay, Australia, marine biologist Peter Godfrey-Smith studied the gloomy octopus, which throws material during social interactions and den cleaning. The videos are amazing, and it’s a relatable experience of being bothered by the harassing male species. The National Geographic YouTube channel has multiple videos of this experience. The octopuses’ lifespan is short after producing eggs, as the male species dies after mating. After a few weeks of nurturing her eggs, the female octopus dies. This is a societal factor demonstrating the need to be child-free, because a part of a woman dies when giving birth to children. The male octopus dies from lustful and sinful behavior against their better judgment. This sounds so familiar to the male human species on land as an epidemic. So relatable!! Some of the male human species lack the comprehension of mature into an adult. They have never been ready. On land, though, women victims are targeted for standing up for themselves, whether in self-defense or advocacy. The justice system does not protect women who have been stalked and harassed by strangers, family, and significant others. It’s death caused by the justice system, even with well-documented paperwork. Female octopuses have the power to swim away quickly without looking back, courageously. I bet that’s a great feeling. Many human women have adjusted to the higher expectations of not being abused or dominated by the psychopathic male human species. They stay celibate and single. Let me be clear: this does not apply to the male-centered women enslaved by predators. They are Illustration by Invisible Prophet borrowed, not loved or protected. Is it you or their popularity first? There are so many points of view relating to the female octopus feeling threatened by a male octopus. However, I feel she is justified in cleaning and protecting her personal peace, healing against an evil world of predators and enablers. Female octopuses do not have to be labeled as crazy or have their writings monitored, with people saying they are spiraling. On land, the demoralized female vessel is forced into rape culture, followed and targeted by predators. Or the assumption of whispers, when is she going to lose control? Don’t have a dog or receive threats for made up revenge to break a heart already dead. It’s neither original, nor diabolical. Oceans are free to swim, as female octopuses can go anywhere in the world to get away from this cruel America. No worries about broken-down platforms for rapists, social media, elite chat rooms, websites, gaming rooms, being lied to about jobs, or hackers from their bank app threatening their safety. Boring individuals, who cannot think for themselves; zombies. Afemale octopus doesn’t have to worry about humans putting her life in danger just for sport, and no one caring to stop it from happening. Sometimes, she might be protected by the guise of nature. She can hide under rocks, in caves, on land, and in many other oceans afar. She is powerful in her own right. She doesn’t have to be perfect; she doesn’t have to be raped or labeled, stalked or harassed by males, even though she has no interest. Her heart is dying to be safe and left alone. She doesn’t have to be pushed for sport to see how far her rage can go. If she responds to death threats, then she isn’t seen as the problem. She does not have to worry about becoming violent or targeted because she doesn’t want to hurt anymore. I wonder whether she has thoughts like humans living with trauma, especially sexual violence. I feel female octopuses do not romanticize abuse in any form; i.e., the rocks, shells, and silt. She doesn’t have to be perfect to fit in a community of criminals or pray to a religion used in deceit. She has eight tentacles to swim away from danger; the male octopus wants to take her life to mate, even though he’s already dead in seconds. Are these male species intelligent as octopuses? Is she, the female octopus, categorized as a sacrifice for a lineage unbeknownst to her? I don’t know whether she has family who have always been a threat to her, but if she does, she torpedoes away from them; good for her. Live free, Octopus tetricus! Do not live any past lives. You don’t have to ask the universe to be safe and to keep the monsters away. Don’t be hunted or threatened by a hateful world. You don’t have a government; maybe you’ve been in the Atlantis Edgar Cayce wrote about in his psychic predictions. Don’t look up to the sky for answers. On land, the universe threatens your existence since you were conceived, with the angered words of past experiences and hateful lineage. Another woman born to hate, who created you? We don’t know, it’s just assumed. Don’t dance on a land of stones. No one cares about your cries to be free, women of sexual violence. You don’t have to feel beautiful, only to have human males laugh at you when naked. To be recorded and posted online as revenge porn, even though it’s illegal under the Take It Down Act supported last year by First Lady Melania Trump. You don’t have to worry about predators assuming they are experts on mental health. Be free, Octopus tetricus, for me!! Listen to the oceanic life surrounded by the music of love and freedom. Love whom you please. Don’t listen to drama or gossip. Don’t be controlled by a false mass population of hate in this fake America. Don’t let predators and lineage be your hate. Be free for us!! Being in love is fake, Octopus tetricus. You are free for the human female species. Heaven is a phantom (a Paloma song verse). Keep throwing for your peace. Invisible Prophet is an artist/vendor at Street Sense.

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ART

Summertime The First Amendment CARLOS CAROLINA BKA POETIC JUSTICE Artist/Vendor

Long days Starlit skies Sun sets At moon rise Illustration by Nikila Campbell

The thirst NIKILA CAMPBELL Artist/Vendor

Thirsty, the lack of having, But needing My thirst is drying me out Do I need help to find what I need? Where is this thirst coming from? Is it up or down yonda? Here I go with the questions I need to quench this thirst, but with what? A man is just a man If he’s not for me, I will take me and my thirst and run I’m craving to be done with being thirsty My thirst has me slipping, Trying to sip On what I need, Not what I want That craving will have to wait My thirst is more important Than that taste I promised my thirst I would take it When it evolves to something greater, But less than an addiction I have never tasted life With a sober tongue until now I wish I could tell the familiar ones, Maybe even invite them to my new way of living Are they thirsty for knowledge? Or do they like the wool over their heads? The streets had a thirst for me I declined, Not my cup of tea I’m still trying to swallow that I’m thirsty to push it down and be done, But this thirst isn’t an easy fight My inner being is fighting With beings it can’t touch Sometimes I’m treated so poorly, It’s normal I’m thirsty for my well-being, Thirsty for a new scene, Thirsty for others’ happiness Maybe if you’re happy, You won’t be thirsty to hurt me This thirst goes so many different ways

Summertime feels so timeless Birds chirping Crickets jumping Tides rising Beaches packing Summertime is full of surprises — Mesmerizing

EL-O-HIM Artist/Vendor

I am the First Amendment That I am As I come in many names and many words Infinite I am in To many things and perform the work, actions, deeds of the soul in Love, truth, peace, freedom, and justice Freely willing and aligned one For the uplift of humanity I am From faith knowing only in the all of every moment I exist Practice made perfect in wisdom, will, and love For earthly and divine salvation I am

Summer Spring Winter Fall

As feet are for walking The mouth for talking Leading and victory is sure Marching Loud and bright I am the everlasting breath Consciousness made flesh Extra, extra Hear now, here now! Read all about it, see all about it, and hear The BREATH ALMIGHTY TONGUE EVERLASTING Illustration by El-O-Him Freedom for and in speech Speaking up for all that is done and made And for all in the making of what is, was, and evermore to be

Then back to summer All summer long

No schools of thought, war or generals, judges or mayors, nor police shall ever direct a threat of violence, defame or fraud, I, the living man, full consciousness, mind over all that matters to heart, center

Life is different Got many sides

Living man, I am that I am consciousness made flesh, one In the flesh, in the name, in the word In what has a beginning and an end

I’m remembering Like last summer when I was venting — About next summer’s summertime Summer vacations and summer jobs Listening to my favorite summer song Summer, summer, summertime As I get my summer on

With different phases For different types Oh, how I love her In every kind But I love her most In summertime

El-O-Him SIGNED SEALED AND DELIVERED I am the words published in the flesh As the words in holy books and just As I speak and be what I speak Wear what I wear and create what I create Rooted in love, truth, peace, freedom, and justice The First Amendment I am and to be continued…

Help

Detours

MARCUS MCCALL Artist/Vendor

MICHELE HELIES Artist/Vendor

Dear reader, I’ve been having crazy nightmares. Like last night. I was sleeping in a tent, nowhere to go or anybody to call for help. Homeless: Have you ever been homeless with no help? During the COVID shutdown, I was sleeping on Capitol Hill. I have been on the ground and on the go for 16 years, homeless. I’ve been housed once- in 2022- for four years through the D.C. housing voucher program, just to lose it by being incarcerated now, so once again, I will be homeless when I am released from prison. I would like to be housed. Housing is a human right!!! Stay blessed.

Today will be a great day if I remember not all of us can do great things, but each and every one of us can do small things with GREAT LOVE. God does not waste detours. My life took a strange and unexpected turn, but rather than looking back confused and wondering, today I choose to see my “detour” is God teaching me something I might never have learned on a different path. Contentment seeps through when I trust God is at work in this place and this season of my life.

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ART

Being a believer

My pet

Pain and suffering

PAUL MARTIN Artist/Vendor

CHRIS BOONE Artist/Vendor

JOSIE BROWN Artist/Vendor

This is Brownie; she is my emotional support animal. I got her in January. She has brought me so much joy.

I want to say good morning, but my ex keeps looking for me, and that’s what makes me mad because I’m still sleeping outside. And one of my family members is blackmailing me so they can keep the money my mother and dad left me before they died. It was a lot of money. I think it’s messed up, and I think they want me to sleep outside. I am tired of sleeping outside. I need somewhere safe to stay. Keep me in y’all’s prayers and have a blessed day.

Being a believer Is being a person who Walks in the truth Being a believer Is letting the truth set you free If only you could believe Being a believer Is if you receive and never leave Being a believer Is never leaving but just standing still And being for real on what you feel Oh, what’s the deal? Let’s stand still and be for real

Friends ROCHELLE WALKER Artist/Vendor

We all need friends, Where have you been? Nobody needs you like I do Friends, where have you been? Friends, one-two-three Friends, come find me A friend came into my life For a reason Friend, I call on the telephone And explain why it ended Friend, nobody cares for you but me Where have you been?

Swinging in the rain BRIAN HOLSTEN Artist/Vendor

The yellow-roofed bench swing swayed as I heard thump, thump, thump, THUMP, the raindrops falling ever heavier and the water pouring down the roof above that swaying swing. I fell asleep as that swing swayed gently, hypnotically and sent away my angst, my difficulties and my stress, with that summer shower downpour. Then I heard a THUNDERCRACKER and saw a ferocious lightning FLASH that further convinced my conscience to stay safe and secure and swaying beneath that yellow-roofed swing!

My story

Photo courtesy of Paul Martin

CYNTHIA HERRION Artist/Vendor

When my son was born in 1975, I was an 18-year-old living with my parents. I got on the waitlist for housing. When my second son was born three years later, I was on my own but still waiting for housing. Then I had a third son and a daughter, and I kept waiting, and waiting, and… Don’t people realize an affordable housing crisis is happening? There are long waitlists for assistance programs. Some people wait decades. I know, because I waited for four of them. During that time, I spent a year in Calvary Women’s Services and lived in several other places. Finally, as a 68-year-old with my children grown, I’m no longer waiting. With help from the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), on Dec. 1, 2022, I moved into RiverPoint Apartments. I am in a new place for the first time. My life is amazing. I can call my apartment HOME!

My neighborhood FREDERICK WALKER Artist/Vendor

I want to keep my apartment. I love where it is in D.C.’s Ward 7. I like to go watch movies, go shopping, and go to church in the area. I need to go to Safeway on Minnesota Avenue. Capital View Library is down the street from me. I love the neighborhood and Benning Road Metro Station; it has the Blue and Silver lines.

Keep your head up ROBERT WARREN Artist/Vendor

Just another day, all alone in my head, thinking it’s not a natural high, wondering why I know I’m not the only one trying to hold back those tears, looking into that beautiful baby’s eyes. Why, oh Lord, why can’t I turn off this thought of despair in my head? I can never do enough, so I think about peace and justice all the time. I know in my head faith without works is dead, and if I die this hour of the day, a sinner who falls short of His grace and mercy, all alone in my head. I remember the Lord and keep my head up and smile at the world. It’s true, people are people, and we all do what we do. Trying to keep my head up and my eyes on the prize and stay out of my head, wondering why oh Lord, why, Do we think a thing in our head and don’t do good, and say tomorrow is another day to try and keep my head up for peace of mind?

Chosen RONNELL WILSON Artist/Vendor

Being chosen is one of life’s tokens Even when inside, when we feel broken, Sending prayers up can be the focus Having the ability today is proof that, indeed, you’ve been chosen Keeping your nose up and parallel to the ground, I pray that my words will flip frowns upside down I once believed you’d be my person, And please believe it’s still hurting I just pray that you stay focused I just tell myself it’s our God busy working One day, we’ll both know exactly why we were chosen...

Mercy MARQUIS SAVANT Artist/Vendor

Ohhh!!! Mercy, mercy me If Marvin Gaye could only see The grace I face, hard to believe I almost died, not once, But three! Humility is my decree I was so willing to be a villain, To be a monster was my decision The consequence that went missing, And my mistakes were all forgiven Lord, have mercy on me For Jill Scott would be Shocked, how I got Out of things, how God Blocked and dodged all The pain meant for me On this journey I walk, I understand this chance of mine is not “Just a chance,” but a gift Most people don’t see So the next time you can… Have mercy!

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

Upgraded elevation

Scars

RACHELLE ELLISON Artist/Vendor

WARNING LABEL Artist/Vendor

Life gets very confusing and off balance before your elevation But as it’s happening, it becomes a revelation People don’t understand it hurts to let go, but you have to, So you can grow to the next level!

Scars, pain are a language we all understand Never get used to it; it either makes or breaks you

Everyone has their personal vision no one else can see, The lonely road you have to take to become absolutely free Free to let go of things that are supposed to hurt you; Now you have tunnel vision, and everything that’s an attack just doesn’t work God will use strangers to get you where he wants you to be; Your attackers get to watch, and they get to see You rise before their very eyes; now they see there is no disguise

Knowing about pain makes its kiss a little sweeter, but the bitter truth is, you’re never prepared for pain’s embrace

I have always known I was chosen To help people from the mountain top Only I can make me fall and drop When you focus and take their power away, You grow when you focus on yourself There will always be a much brighter day, And the level-to-level elevations are here to stay So rise to the top, take the ceiling off my sky, I’ll continue to do God’s work till the day I die Rachelle Ellison recently graduated from the Peer Case Management Institute. Photos courtesy of Rachelle Ellison

Contract with myself

Illustration by Warning Label

I don’t care what you think you have; pain doesn’t value what you have Everyone has tears, pain, suffering, waiting, knowing, it is a hate that will never be filled Scars, emotional, physical, mental scars No matter who you are, you have scars Pain is an old friend

Transformation GLORIA PRINZ Artist/Vendor

WILLIAM HARGROVE Artist/Vendor

In the last year, I have evolved and grown. Grown by huge shifts that disrupted and shook my feelings and physical body. And people miscalculated my breaking point. I naturally was transformed.

I, ________________, recognize myself as an adult with options and choices, and I commit myself to this process of actively getting emotional unhappiness out of my relationships and out of my life. In order to reach that goal, I make the following promises:

Sellouts

I promise myself that I am no longer willing to let fear, obligation, and guilt control my decisions. I promise myself that I will learn the strategies in this life and put them into practice in my life. I promise myself that if I regress, fail, or fall into old patterns, I will not use slips as an excuse to stop trying. I recognize failure can be used as a way to learn. I promise to take good care of myself during this process. __________ Date __________ Signature

Life in the city WILLIAM YOUNG Artist/Vendor

Why do I do the things I do and say the things I say? What is important? And how can I tell? I am learning more each day. There’s more to me than meets the eye; I am beginning to understand it’s what I think and how I feel make me what I am. Standing on the roof, I see the evening rise of flame-swirled clouds and darkening skies. Below, I see the careless flight of airborne litter lighted by flashing signs, electric glitter. Where sirens whine and racing taxis beep, down there in the crowded downtown streets.

LEVESTER GREEN Artist/Vendor

They’re trying to sell D.C. out to New York, and the rest are trying to sell it out to the west! Sometimes I feel like Zeus when he had his daughter from his head. From his mind she leapt, as if a brainchild even! That’s how I’ve been made to feel for my long-lost daughter, whom I’ve recently discovered may not be mine after all of these years. No one told me, though! So, if you’ve been following my story, you’re aware of my disturbances here within the public housing system. Now nothing’s perfect, but disrespect is just that, what it is! Some folks are harboring hate within these local D.C. government-provided walls, and I’d say there are pretty strong signs of some type of resentment they’ve decided to exploit rather than make amends. I wasn’t having these problems initially, with them trying to stifle me intellectually and personally in my containment unit with quips from every wall! Not to mention one of them being the voice of the formerly innocent being exploited in a manner of being utilized as a bit of a battering ram, if not a crowbar prying into my privacy via her private preferences, which have totally not been legitimized or scrutinized properly! Furthermore, the voice of my wayward nephew is also being manipulated in this fashion, as they are pivotal in their positioning in life and said relation. A bit of a one-two, and then you also add in the rest of the direct and extended family, and now you have an inner coup happening! Internal conflict gone rampant and unchecked, especially if one wasn’t checking for my reads in my Xlibris publication or the paper. A total undermining of the system in which they want access to my brain children, creations of intellectual property, even before they’re readying for the copyright office. How can this not cause internal damage!? Bottling up all while trying to disconnect and disengage the creator, even while creating, is downright wicked if not evil! Diabolical, I suggest! Now it’s a contest for the very soul to exist, let alone the standards slowed by taking it out of context! It’s all abusive and a flex! Even the book publisher got into it with the jerk around after I’d already gotten three books bound! On the website is where my stories can be found. Support me through Second Story Cards, CashApp, and by downloading the Street Sense app!

14 / / S TR E E T S E N SE M ED IA // AU G . 12 - AU G . 25, 2026

FUN & GAMES

CROSSWORD Diet Surprises

Puzzle by Patrick “Mac” McIntyre

SOLUTION: D’ya Notice a POTUS? ____ Issue

1. Coconut producer 5. College transcript stat. figs. (abbr./inits.) 9. Canine : dogs :: ____ : sheep 14. ___ Minor 15. “Cogito ___ sum” (“I think, therefore I am”) (Lat.) 16. Happen yet again 17. Fish-consuming marsupial mammals 19. Seattle’s “Climate Pledge ____” (large indoor event venue) 20. Induce insensitivity to pain, as with anesthetics 21. Flexible, electrically (2 wds.) (2-2) (incls. abbrs.) 22. Former MLB Red Sox star and current ESPN analyst Garciaparra (RAMON anagram) 23. Big cat-consuming horses 28. Cain raiser in the Bible? 29. Eightfold 31. Wasted, in modern bar slang 32. “Taxi Driver” star Robert who’s urged us to take to the streets in the No Kings rallies (2,4) 34. Word that may precede or serve as a substitute for “profit” 35. Like some threats 36. Insect-consuming fish (2 wds.) (5,4) (MAYAN RATS anagram) 39. Padlock-secured door fastener 42. To and ___ 43. French city known for its 24-hour auto endurance race (2 wds.) (2,4) (Fr.) 47. Annoy 48. Natural or synthetic polymers used in the 3-D printing process (KIN BIOS) 50. Former Seattle Mariners Skipper Piniella 51. Fish-consuming apex-predator reptile whose diet may also include mammals, birds and crustaceans 53. Show to be inaccurate 55. Miffed 56. Those suffered/received in the course of military battles may merit Purple Heart medals 58. Ladybug’s prey 60. Flying mammal-consuming Goony bird 63. Fashion designer Geoffrey 64. Can of worms, collectively maybe 65. “Movin’ ____ (“The Jeffersons” theme) (2 wds.) (2,2) 66. French equivalent of the Oscar film award 67. With 7-Down, a long time back 68. More than just a want Down 1. Neighbor of Iran (abbr.) 2. Two-word locational reference to a preceding portion of a written work (2,5) (SAVE BOA anagram) 3. Football QB protectors, collectively 4. ___ cum laude (Lat.) 5. Microbe 6. TV’s “Survivor” host Jeff 7. See, 67-Across 8. “Send help!” (abbr./init.) 9. Legendary soothsayer of Delphi 10. “Rigoletto” and “La Traviata” composer 11. Optimal state for ballpark beer (2 wds.) (3,4) 12. Mother superior inferior

LAST EDITION’S PUZZLE SOLUTION

Across 1 13 17

21 28 31

43 47 53 56 63 65

F 24

A U

I 40

L I N

U S A

6 14

15 18

E R

L T

S 26

10 16

I N 46

R E 67

A N

S N A

M P

C 61

T E N

D O

L A N R

R D O

U N

I 27

S H U

H A

T E M O

S P

E S S

S P

M P

E M

T U

E R

25 29

T E

T A 50

I E

R 49 55

T O

T 33

S H

D O

R 32

T U

G R

C A

C O

E R

S N

C R

G I

D W

J E E R G

H 62

E M

25 29

I N

S P

M P

R A

A E

W N

____ Issue

F A

15 18

SOLUTION: D’ya Notice a POTUS?

1 13 17

21 28 31

43 47 53 56 63 65

S 36

10 16

M O

23 29

28 32

This crossword puzzle is the original work of Patrick “Mac”McIntyre. It is provided to us courtesy of Real Change News, a street paper based in Seattle, Washington. Learn more about Real Change News and the International Network of Street Papers at realchangenews.org and insp.ngo.

34 37

33 36

13. Baseball pitcher’s stat. (abbr./init.) 18. ____ Borealis (Northern Lights) 21. Like one whose actual accomplishments fall far short of their promises (2 wds.) (3,4) 22. Beatty of “Deliverance” 24. Fishy ingredient in some health food store capsules (2 wds.) (4,3) (LAIN OUT anagram) 25. One who mimics others 26. Nothing at all 27. Sault ___ Marie (abbr.) (Fr.) 30. With “in,” disclose personal or private info to another, trusting them to be discreet 33. Babysitter’s handful 35. End to cannibal or vegetarian? 37. “Star Trek T.N.G.” counsellor Deanna 38. “Uh huh, right; however,” (2 wds.) (3,3) 39. Popular fruit drink when read as (2-1), or sot’s sound when read as (3) 40. Flight board or sheet music abbr. 41. Small amounts relative of pinches or smidgens 44. “Voila!” or “Finito!” in everyday English (2 wds.) (3,4) 45. Like something of zero concern that clearly won’t be a problem (2 wds.) (2,5) 46. “So ____ me” (indifferent reaction to your complaint, perhaps) 48. Place for an ICE patrol 49. Beginner, slangily 52. “To ____ phrase...” (would-be wordsmith’s self-promotional lead-in) (2 wds.) (4,1) 54. Ken Lay’s former company 57. Sew one’s wild ____ 58. Epitome of simplicity 59. “____-wee’s Big Adventure” 60. Lawyers org. (abbr./init.) 61. Streaming delay issue 62. Initialism for grp. informally known as “Seattle’s Finest”

56 60

PIECE OF THE WEEK

Illustration and letter by Jay B. Williams

S T RE E T S E NS E ME DI A . ORG

COMMUNITY SERVICES

SHELTER HOTLINE Línea directa de alojamiento

(202) 399-7093

YOUTH HOTLINE Línea de juventud

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE Línea directa de violencia doméstica

(202) 547-7777

1-800-799-7233

Housing/Shelter Vivienda/alojamiento

Education Educación

Health Care Seguro

Clothing Ropa

Legal Assistance Assistencia Legal

Case Management Coordinación de Servicios

Food Comida

Employment Assistance Assitencia con Empleo

Transportation Transportación

Showers Duchas

All services listed are referral-free Academy of Hope Public Charter School 202-269-6623 // 2315 18th Pl. NE 202-373-0246 // 421 Alabama Ave. SE aohdc.org

Bread for the City 1525 7th St., NW // 202-265-2400 1700 Marion Barry Ave., SE // 202-561-8587 breadforthecity.org

Calvary Women’s Services // 202-678-2341 1217 Marion Barry Ave., SE calvaryservices.org

Food and Friends // 202-269-2277 (home delivery for those suffering from HIV, cancer, etc) 219 Riggs Rd., NE foodandfriends.org

Foundry Methodist Church // 202-332-4010 1500 16th St., NW foundryumc.org/idministry Identification services Friendship Place // 202-364-1419 4713 Wisconsin Ave., NW friendshipplace.org

Catholic Charities // 202-772-4300 catholiccharitiesdc.org/gethelp

Georgetown Ministry Center // 202-338-8301 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW georgetownministrycenter.org

Central Union Mission // 202-745-7118 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW missiondc.org

Jobs Have Priority // 202-544-9096 1526 Pennslyvania Ave., SE jobshavepriority.org

Charlie’s Place // 202-929-0100 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW charliesplacedc.org

Loaves & Fishes // 202-232-0900 1525 Newton St., NW loavesandfishesdc.org

Christ House // 202-328-1100 1717 Columbia Rd., NW christhouse.org

Martha’s Table // 202-328-6608 marthastable.org

Church of the Pilgrims // 202-387-6612 2201 P St., NW (1-1:30 on Sundays only) churchofthepilgrims.org/outreach

Community Family Life Services 202-347-0511 // 4860 Fort Totten Dr, NE cflsdc.org

2375 Elvans Rd, SE 2204 Martin Luther King Ave. SE

Miriam’s Kitchen // 202-452-8926 2401 Virginia Ave., NW miriamskitchen.org

My Sister’s Place // 202-529-5991 (24-hr hotline) mysistersplacedc.org Community of Hope // 202-232-7356 4 Atlantic St., NW communityofhopedc.org

Covenant House Washington 202-610-9600 // 2001 Mississippi Ave., SE covenanthousedc.org

N Street Village // 202-939-2076 1333 N St., NW nstreetvillage.org

New York Avenue Shelter // 202-832-2359 1355-57 New York Ave., NE

D.C. Coalition for the Homeless 202-347-8870 // 1234 Massachusetts Ave., NW dccfh.org

Patricia Handy Place for Women 202-733-5378 // 810 5th St., NW

Father McKenna Center // 202-842-1112 19 North Capitol St., NW fathermckennacenter.org

Samaritan Inns // 202-667-8831 2523 14th St., NW samaritaninns.org

Laundry Lavandería

Samaritan Ministry 202-722-2280 // 1516 Hamilton St., NW 202-889-7702 // 1345 U St., SE samaritanministry.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork // 202-675-9340 741 8th St., SE sashabruce.org

So Others Might Eat (SOME) // 202-797-8806 71 O St., NW some.org

St. Luke’s Mission Center // 202-363-4900 3655 Calvert St., NW stlukesmissioncenter.org

Thrive DC // 202-737-9311 1525 Newton St., NW thrivedc.org

Unity Health Care unityhealthcare.org - Healthcare for the Homeless Health Center: 202-508-0500 - Community Health Centers: 202-469-4699 1500 Galen Street SE, 1251-B Saratoga Ave NE, 1660 Columbia Road NW, 4414 Benning Road NE, 3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 765 Kenilworth Terrace NE, 850 Delaware Ave., SW, 3240 Stanton Road SE, 3020 14th Street NW, 425 2nd Street NW, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 2100 New York Avenue NE, 1333 N Street NW, 1355 New York Avenue NE, 1151 Bladensburg Rd., NE, 4515 Edson Pl., NE

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless 1200 U St., NW // 202-328-5500 legalclinic.org

The Welcome Table // 202-347-2635 1317 G St., NW. epiphanydc.org/thewelcometable

Whitman-Walker Health 1525 14th St., NW // 202-745-7000 1201 Sycamore Dr., SE whitman-walker.org

Woodley House // 202-830-3508 2711 Connecticut Ave., NW

For further information and listings, gs, visit our online service guide at StreetSenseMedia.org/service-guide

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOTLINE Línea de salud del comportamiento

1-888-793-4357

JOB BOARD Prepared Foods Team Member Whole Foods Market // 1440 P St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005 Part-Time (Onsite) Prepare and serve hot and cold foods, assist customers at the deli counter, stock prepared foods, maintain product freshness, and maintain a clean and safe work environment. Requirements: No prior retail experience required, strong customer service skills, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and ability to lift up to 50 lbs. Pay: $18.50–$25.40/hr Apply: shorturl.at/gjCJW Houseperson AC Hotel Washington DC Capitol Hill/Navy Yard // Washington, D.C. Full-Time (Onsite) Maintain clean and organized hotel public areas, assist housekeeping with heavy lifting and priority requests, report maintenance or safety issues, assist guests with their needs, and help keep the hotel clean and welcoming. Requirements: Previous housekeeping or hospitality experience preferred, ability to communicate effectively, ability to operate cleaning equipment, and strong attention to guest service. Pay: $19.00–$22.80/hr Apply: shorturl.at/qWl89 Housekeeper Room Care Le Méridien Arlington // Arlington, VA Full-Time (Onsite) Clean and service assigned guest rooms , maintain organized linen carts and supplies, report maintenance issues, protect guest property and hotel equipment, report lost-and-found items, and respond to guest requests. Requirements: Housekeeping or hospitality experience preferred, strong attention to detail, ability to work independently and as part of a team, ability to perform physical cleaning duties, and flexible availability. Benefits: Medical, dental and vision insurance Apply: tinyurl.com/yp3wapxa

Hiring? Send your job postings to esmat@StreetSenseMedia.org

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Thank you for reading Street Sense! From your vendor, A U G. 12 - A U G. 25, 2026 |

VOLUME 23 ISSUE 20

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